Although I'd hardly call myself a hardcore fanatic, I've seen enough Japanese animation to be familiar with the genre. Of all the various shows and films I've had the pleasure of watching (Akira, Ninja Scroll, Macross, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, etc.), it really amazes me that I'd never really sat down to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion, a short-lived series that first premiered in October of 1995 and aired for less than a year. Since its original broadcast, Evangelion has garnered quite a fan following worldwide, and has even spawned a few feature-length films in the process (Death and Rebirth, for example). While it may not feature an earth-shatteringly original concept or general plot outline (especially within the boundaries of anime itself), it's a series that gets by with likeable characters, a strong undercurrent of mystery, and beautiful artwork.

Based on a Japanese comic book series (or manga), Evangelion tells the story of a young man's place in the world, A.D. 2015. Although this young boy (Shinji) has a practically non-existent relationship with his father (Gendo Ikari), he is called to meet with him while the city of Tokyo-3 is under attack by a strange, massive robotic creature known as an "Angel". Apparently, Shinji seems to be one of the keys to combat these Angels, and is asked (actually, more or less ordered) to pilot a technically advanced robot called an "Evangelion". Obviously, this is all a little much to take in at once, and Shinji seems reluctant to jump into such a deadly and dangerous situation. Eventually, he reconsiders, and seems determined to follow this new adventure wherever it may lead him.

Part of what makes Evangelion so compelling is its strong undercurrents of religion, philosophy, and basic human psychology. It's common knowledge among fans of Japanese animation that this isn't kid's stuff, and it doesn't pander to its audience. There's a lot to think about here---especially about your own place in the world---and Evangelion has a much deeper and more stimulating premise than a thousand episodes of Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh!. To make a long story short, it's rightfully deserving of its huge fanbase and a terrific "gateway drug" for future anime addicts.

With that said, the only thing that holds this show back is the occasional feeling that we've seen bits and pieces of it before, especially in the forms of anime like the previously-mentioned Akira and Macross. It's by no means a cheap imitation, but several key themes and plot devices won't seem as fresh to anyone but those new to the wonderful world of Japanese animation. Still, the show's action-packed, dramatic sci-fi roots help to create a consistently satisfying series, and the mystery of certain characters and situations do a great job of keeping things interesting.

During the show's original run, a total of 26 episodes were created. Apparently, Director Hideki Anno actually suffered a nervous breakdown towards the end of Evangelion (some fans have mentioned the series gets a little confusing in the later episodes), but the show as a whole remains a popular favorite of many anime fans. The first five episodes ("Angel Attack", "The Beast", "A Transfer", "Hedgehog's Dilemma", and "Rei 1") are included in this first volume, which has been re-released as a "Platinum Edition" by ADV Films. The most notable improvement here is the top-notch technical treatment that Evangelion has received, as long-time fans will no doubt be thrilled at the jump in overall quality. While the extras are a little disappointing on the whole, this is still a great release for any self-respecting fan of anime (or just great science fiction!). With that said, let's see how this one stacks up:

Equally impressive is the robust Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound mix, available in the ever-popular choice of an English dub or the original Japanese (with English subtitles). I chose the original language track for the bulk of the viewing session, but also listened to a bit of the English dub as well (which is a quality effort, but I really don't like the idea of dubbing in general). Both tracks exhibited a great amount of punch, and the overall atmospheric presence was terrific. This is easily one of the best 5.1 tracks I've heard for any anime, perhaps bested only by a few miscellaneous DTS tracks (such as those found on the Akira and Cowboy Bebop Perfect Sessions re-issues). Directional effects and LFE are also excellent, and really pull you into the action from the very first episode! Overall, this is a terrific technical presentation by ADV, and really makes this Platinum re-release shine brightly.

Although the menus (seen above) aren't flashy or terribly exciting, they're simply designed and make for very smooth navigation. Each of these five episodes is broken down into the five customary chapters of most anime shows (Opening Credits, Part A, Part B, Closing Credits, and the Trailer for the next episode), and there was no layer change detected. Packaging was also nicely designed, with brief episode descriptions provided on the back of the keepcase and an attractive overall layout. The keepcase also comes packaged in a sharp looking "Platinum" slipcover with embossed black lettering. Additionally, a nice 12-page character profile booklet and "one of a kind" numbered decal are also included. As mentioned before, English subtitles are also provided (although for some reason, Episodes #2 and #4's opening credits only feature Japanese subtitles).

Although I admit to being a little disappointed in the slim amount of extras here, at least they're something fans will really enjoy. The aforementioned Audio Commentaries by Matt Greenfield for Episodes #1 and #2 are incredibly informative, especially if you're a follower of the English dubbed version (since I'm not, this track wasn't right up my alley but was enjoyable anyway). While long-time fans may know this already, Greenfield also provides the English voice of the character Makoto, and is married to Tiffany Grant, the English voice of Asuka. On a related note, Greenfield is also joined on Episode #2 by none other than Spike Spencer, the English voice of Shinji. Both tracks are entertaining listens, as the participants seem very comfortable chatting about the show in general…it's too bad that they couldn't have provided commentary on all five. Also included here are the Clean Versions of the opening and closing credits (artwork only), as well as a handful of Trailers for other ADV releases (including Megazone 23, Excel Saga Imperfect Collection, and Gravion, among others).

While the overall quality of the extras is apparent, there's still not enough on here to satisfy most fans. For one, I'd have loved to see a sketchbook or art gallery, or a behind-the-scenes look at the show's production and voice acting. Additionally, the lack of more commentaries by the cast also hurts this release a little...a little more effort would have really made a world of difference. As it stands, this Platinum DVD is easily superior to earlier releases of Evangelion, but it's still not quite a definitive disc.

Overall, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Volume 1 really took me by surprise in a number of ways. Although the first few episodes had a few clichés and other shortcomings, I found this series to be a well-executed one…and I think future episodes will really heat things up, too. The DVD treatment itself was phenomenal---especially in the technical department---and it's high time that more anime releases got this good of a clean-up job. While the lack of meaty extras took this disc down a notch, hardcore fans will really enjoy the included commentaries. Only the stiff price tag may scare a few people off---but this is anime, so the $30 price tag is almost expected by now. All things considered, The Platinum Collection is definitely the way to go for those who haven't experienced Evangelion on DVD, and the remastering effort alone will most likely make this worth the double dip. Recommended.

Complete Evangelion Guide at TV Tome (with episode spoilers)